At the trailer launch of the upcoming Netflix series Single Papa, director Shashank Khaitan opened up about why Kunal Khemu was always his first—and only—choice for the lead role.
Khaitan explained, “When I read the first episode, I actually had nobody else in my mind and of course it wasn’t a solo decision, we took a call on that, whether it’s Ishita, Neeraj or the whole Netflix team and producers, but I think somewhere we all were convinced. I mean look at his body of work since probably he was five years old, who can forget Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke, how cute and amazing he was in that film.”
Reminiscing further, he added, “Not just that, he has done Dharma banner films. I remember interacting with him a lot during Kalank, because he would come to the office and I was shooting Badrinath Ki Dulhania. We would catch up, we had fondness for each other, and we were always waiting for that right opportunity. And I am so glad this was the show. When he read the material—and of course we all are young fathers, his daughter is 7 and mine is 4—this topic, Single Papa, and we all have been threatened with the notion by our wives, they will be like, ‘I am single mom, you never do anything in the house,’ so the pressure was on us to prove ourselves even more. So a lot of things fell into place, and genuinely I am so fortunate that this is the first cast we imagined and everyone came onboard, which is a rarity.”
Single Papa is created and co-produced by Ishita Moitra and Neeraj Udhwani, with Khaitan serving as executive producer. The show is directed by Shashank Khaitan, Hitesh Kewalya, and Neeraj Udhwani under Juggernaut Productions, led by producers Aditya Pittie and Samar Khan.
The series follows Gaurav Gahlot, played by Kunal Khemu, a single dad navigating the unpredictable challenges of parenthood—from diaper chaos to unsolicited wisdom from relatives. The show captures the warmth, noise, humor, and heart of an Indian household, blending comedy with emotional honesty.
Alongside Khemu, the cast includes Manoj Pahwa, Neha Dhupia as the assertive Romilla Nehra, Prajakta Koli as Namrata, Gaurav’s grounded sister, and Ayesha Raza. Together, they bring to life a story that promises relatable laughter and heartfelt moments about love, family, and the beautiful mess of parenting.
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